Tip: Don't Paint "Direct From Nature"

In the book, Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting, John F. Carlson's describes how artists should adjust what they see in nature to improve the composition. This is how he introduces this section:

"Don't paint 'direct from nature' when all elements of organization and beauty or design are palpably absent."

I think adjusting what nature offers is what allows great artists to find beauty in almost any scene. A great landscape photograph can only be captured when all the "elements of organization and beauty" come together naturally, and then only when the photographer happens to be at the right place at the right time to catch it on film. A great artist, on the other hand, has a better chance of creating a great picture because he or she can adjust what nature offers to compensate for missing or weak compositional elements.

Carlson concludes this section of his book by saying:

"Study nature carefully - note what is taking place upon the face of nature; watch for the subtle transitions of color and paint these things, arranging them to best express a subjective idea. Otherwise you might as well use a camera."

I don't think that Carlson has any dislike of photography, rather he sees artists as greatly limiting themselves if they don't consider making changes to the images they use as reference. Although we don't have the original references that Carlson used, here is a beautiful example of what he was able to produce.

Finally, here is Carlson's most eloquent description of what he expects from artists:

"Nature is seldom perfect in design. The artists must look to nature for his inspiration, but must rearrange the elemental truths into an orderly sequence or progression of interests. By 'sequence' is meant giving primary, secondary, or tertiary importance to such forms and color masses as are needed for an end and leaving all others out. In speaking of composition the use of the word 'need' may sound enigmatic to the beginner. Let it be understood, then, that since nature is rarely perfect in design quality, the artist, in rearranging his 'natural' elements upon the canvas, is creating a picture. This may involve moving objects to left or right, raising or lowering the horizon, slanting a mountain's contour in a direction opposite to that of nature, enlarging or reducing various masses, strengthening or reducing certain lines, introducing minor elements such as stones, bushes, fences, flower-patches, etc., to give a desired line; 'placing' clouds in a manner to emphasize their sweep and movement to coordinate with the other lines of his picture. He is really using nature and her forms, while he manipulates the natural truths to suit his artistic needs. Were this not so, the man who could slavishly imitate or copy nature as he saw her would be the greatest artists; but he never is."